MEMBER BIOS

David Davies - French Horn
David has been with the SHCB for 15 years. While in high school, he transferred from trumpet to horn and has played off and on ever since. As a testament to his love of the instrument, David says “Most horn players are a bit on the eccentric side due to the vicissitudes of horn playing, but we wouldn't change instruments either.” After trying life as a music teacher, David made a career change to nursing and spent 30 years happily working at St. Helena Hospital. Nowadays, he spends his time in the yard, doing volunteer work here and there, and making fine creations in his wood shop. And, of course, horn playing.

Jeff Farmer - Trumpet
Jeff has been with SHCB for ten years. He picked up the trumpet for real about 12 years ago after dropping it in elementary school. Jeff has been taking private lessons for the last ten years, from a teacher who gives him a structure for practice and the tools to know what specific things to work on. Currently, he’s working on his range. Jeff is currently Treasurer for the band and Kiwanis Club of St. Helena. He loves working with numbers and spreadsheets! He’s also a member of the St. Helena Firesafe Council. Jeff also has four chickens, which produce plenty of eggs and noise. In addition to music, he likes to bicycle around the valley, (avoiding most hills, please!), and also dabbles in reverse engineering songs on Youtube to sheet music and transposition.

Kent Gaisford - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Kent has been with the SHCB for 11 years/seasons. In addition to playing with the SHCB, he is a member of the PUC Wind Ensemble, PUC Symphonic Orchestra, the St. Helena Dixieland Band (a small ensemble consisting of Community Band members), and has been a contributing member of the pit orchestra for SHHS musical stage productions for the past few years (Fiddler on the Roof, Newsies). Kent started playing the trumpet at age 9, and played steadily through college with the UC Berkeley Marching Band. He has studied under Edward Haug (SF Symphony/Opera), Bill Ortiz (Santana band), and Brian Switzer (Train). Now a retired graphic designer / instructional designer, Kent spends his free time playing his horn, riding his bikes, and motorcycles, and hiking the many outdoor trails in the Napa Valley.

Bill Gantt - Trumpet
Bill is one of the newest members of the SHCB, joining the group just a year ago. Bill also plays all brass instruments. He started with trumpet in 4th grade, studied privately from 6th grade through college. He performed with school groups and private ensembles through college and also performed with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, 1973-76.
Bill received his Bachelor’s degree. as a double major in trumpet performance and composition. He received his Master of Art degree in Theory and Composition from SF State, working alongside Dr. Roger Nixon as his private instructor in Composition. After his school years, Bill took over his high school band director’s position when he retired, teaching the Clayton Valley H.S. program for three years. After that, he came to Napa, where he accepted the Instrumental Music Director position at Vintage High School in Napa, teaching from 1986-2017. In addition, Bill was also the Napa College Jazz Ensemble Director, 2005-2015.


Jan Kappmeyer - Flute/Piccolo
Flute and piccolo. Jan has been with SHCB for fifteen years. She has played flute for over 55 years, starting with group lessons in the public school system at the age of 8. She studied privately in Pittsburgh and Boston between the 6th and 12th grades, and continued her studies at the Pennsylvania State University and again later in life in San Jose and at UC Davis. Since moving to California in 1983, Jan has enjoyed playing and performing with small chamber ensembles, community bands, and semi-professional bands, as well as in the orchestra pits at Ohlone College in Fremont and in St. Helena. Jan's first experience playing piccolo was in the mid-1980s, when she played flute and piccolo in the Ohlone's production of The Pirates of Penzance. Now, piccolo is perhaps her favorite instrument to play. Jan also plays piano, guitar, mallet percussion, penny whistle and hammer dulcimer (love the Irish!!).
Jan and her husband, Drew Isaacs, moved to St. Helena in 2000 and now live near Lake Hennessey, where they grow just enough Cabernet sauvignon to make one barrel of wine each year. They are both long-time, avid gardeners and hikers. At 58, Jan decided to try her hand at singing after Craig Bond encouraged her to give it a go. She now loves singing and the challenge of using a part of her brain not used before in playing instrumental music. She also recently discovered quilting and spends considerable time making art quilts for her friends and family. Jan’s current public service includes serving a second 4-year term on the California State Mining and Geology Board.
With a MS in geology from the University of Michigan, Jan worked as a geologist in the upper mid-west, Texas and California for about 25 years before going back to school at UC Davis in 2004, where she earned a degree in Viticulture and Enology. Since graduating in 2006, she has worked in the Napa wine industry and is now the Manager of Grower Relations for Constellation Brands. When people ask Jan when she plans on retiring she replies, "Why retire? I'm having too much fun!!"

Jennifer Mini Bera - Trumpet
Jennifer also plays clarinet, piano, and bassoon. She has been with SHCB two years. Jennifer started playing the trumpet in 4th grade and played through her sophomore year of high school; also attending two years of University of Pacific's Youth Summer program for music. In middle school she was able to branch out and learn the clarinet, and during freshman year, was introduced to the bassoon; playing in the Vintage High School concert band. Additionally, during her freshman year, she taught herself piano, and has been playing ever since. In 2008, Jennifer played clarinet with Tony Carlin for the St. Johns Church band. She finds playing in the St. Helena Community Band a great opportunity to perform and be a part of the local community and their musical events. She currently works as a Phlebotomist at the Queen of the Valley Hospital, and in her free time, enjoys spending time with her two boys, hiking, and photography.

Pam Nadeau - Clarinet/Eb Clarinet
Pam has been a member of SHCB for thirteen years. She’s played the instrument since 4th grade; but not saying how long ago that was! She had success in high school with two years in state honor band and decided upon a music career. Pam began teaching music in 1982, has a lifetime teaching credential, and two degrees in music performance. She retired from the St. Helena school district in 2016 and currently works for an online school, writing year-long school programs for home school students. In addition to playing in any group that will have her, Pam grows much of her food and lots of flowers on her property in Sonoma. She claims to receive extensive help with this from her two large dogs and two garden cats.

Anahid Nazarian - Alto Saxophone
Anahid Nazarian grew up in Los Angeles in a musical family. She began playing violin at the age of five, and switched to the flute at age 10, which became her primary instrument. While studying flute at UCLA, she also took up the saxophone and bass guitar and performed with a variety of groups ranging from symphony orchestras to hard rock bands, including opening for the rock group Van Halen. Leaving music behind after college, Anahid began working for filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. After not playing music for many years, Anahid joined the Saint Helena Community Band when Coppola gave her a saxophone as a Christmas gift and encouraged her to begin playing again. Along with participating in the band and other musical groups in the Napa Valley, Anahid's interests include archaeology, bocce, making documentary films, cooking Armenian food, and learning to play drums.

Amy Palma - French Horn
Amy has been with SHCB six years, and also plays clarinet. She played clarinet from the 4th grade all the way through high school. Later, while teaching 6th grade, Amy ended up playing the French horn to support a student who was new to the school, and has kept going ever since. Dave Davies, another member of SHCB, has been a mentor and major supporter of Amy’s learning the French horn, and has taught her to appreciate this instrument. Amy currently teaches 5th grade Math and Social Studies; loves pottery, watching birds, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Abigail Palmer - Clarinet
Abigail has been with SHCB for five years. She started playing clarinet in 6th grade, and played in Concert Band and Symphonic Band all through high school. She stopped playing while in college and graduate school, and started up again when the St. Helena Community Band first formed. Abigail studied Latin and Greek at University of Dallas and continued her Latin and Greek studies at Fordham University for grad school;. she’s been teaching and writing ever since. She’s taught Latin, Drama, and Ancient History at St. Helena Montessori School for 12 years, written Ancient History curriculum for a homeschool company, and written short nonfiction articles. Recently, Abigail completed her first novel, a young adult historical fiction book set in ancient Alexandria (publication will be in 2024). She’s working on her second novel and also working to adapt Dante's Divine Comedy for young actors. She loves language and music!

Holly Rogers - Flute
Holly has been with the SHCB for 15 years. In addition to flute, she also plays piano, organ, and recorder. Holly chose to play the flute at age 9 when her parents allowed her to choose any instrument offered at Chicago Public Elementary School, as it began its music education program. After taking lessons from the Taft High School Band music teacher/conductor for a few years and loving it, her parents allowed her to buy her own flute with college savings and stop piano lessons, to focus on the flute. While in a church youth choir, Holly played a lively flute obligato in a several page chorale aired live on Chicago radio. She was a top flutist with both the symphonic band and orchestra all through high school. Having played only for her own enjoyment for decades after high school, Holly was happy to see Francis Coppola's St. Helena Star invitation to audition for a community band and was overjoyed to pass the audition! She considers playing in the Band a true joy and highlight of her life.
Holly, now retired, has enjoyed many careers: Trust and Investment Technology Management, innkeeping of motels, resorts, bed & breakfasts, counselor and manager of homeless and senior care homes, calligrapher and graphic artist/designer (before computer fonts evolved), and as a Napa Valley visitor counselor and bookkeeper for the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce. She is now Manager of the Band, utilizing her many skills and talents, investing much of her time to help the Band be as successful as possible. In her remaining spare time, Holly enjoys other interests, such as travel, writing, game playing, puzzles, socializing, staying active, and daily exercise and nutrition; all with the goal of remaining happy and healthy.

Quentin White - Tenor Saxophone
Quentin has been with SHCB for fifteen years and has been playing the sax for 60 years. He has a degree in music education; the first two years at Clark College in Vancouver Washington and the second two at Pacific Union College. He plays all types of music in all types of situations. After graduating from Pacific Union College, he worked for The Carpet Cleaning Service, which he has owned for over 50 years. He rides motorcycles; both street and dirt, and loves to sail his Hobie Cat, as well as wakeboarding and wake surfing with his family (He enjoys being the boat Captain as well). Spending time with his kids and grandkids is a top priority. He’s recently been working with his Greater Swiss Mountain Dog training her to pull carts and for show.